Vancouver House Project: Redefining the Connection Between Interior Spaces and Nature
Location of the House and Its Historical Significance
This house is situated in a south-leaning neighborhood in Vancouver and is considered one of the few remaining bungalow-style homes in the area. This uniqueness reflects the city’s architectural transformations, as larger plots were preferred for building expansive houses during the 1980s and 1990s.
Architectural Design and Chronology
The house, a one-and-a-half-story structure, was designed by Canadian architect Ron Thom in 1952, before undergoing a significant renovation in 1982. Both the original design and the later renovation demonstrate adaptation to the surrounding environment while preserving the distinctive character of the house.
Relationship with the Surrounding Environment
The house is surrounded by a mature natural canopy of cedar, maple, and dogwood trees, creating a sense of privacy and harmony with nature. This environment not only enhances visual aesthetics but also contributes to temperature regulation and shading.
Interior Layout and Spatial Protection
The interior spaces are arranged under graduated levels of 3×6 cedar roof panels, adding a unique architectural character and encouraging the flow of natural light. The entrance from the street is shielded by a concrete brick fireplace with clerestory windows and terrace glazing, allowing the house to open toward the south and providing flexible views of the surrounding garden.
Project Scope
The project involves a complete reconstruction and renovation of the house over an area of 240 square meters, with a focus on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the existing structure.
Structural and Thermal Performance Enhancement
Major upgrades have been scheduled to improve the house’s seismic and structural performance, alongside the reinforcement of thermal insulation for the original wooden structure, which had deteriorated over time. These measures ensure the safety of the house and the comfort of its occupants, while preserving its traditional architectural features.
New Extensions
In addition to the renovation, the design includes a southern terrace that allows full enjoyment of the outdoor spaces, as well as a pool accompanied by a dedicated pool house. These additions strike a balance between the modern use of the house and the preservation of its original identity, while enhancing the interaction between interior and exterior spaces.
Preservation of Original Elements and Reassessment
Many of the original design elements, such as the roof panels, fireplace, and overall layout of the house, have been preserved, with a focus on respecting the home’s historical character. However, the staircase designed in 1982 underwent significant modifications to introduce natural daylight into the entrance and provide a direct connection between the basement and the side courtyard, enhancing the circulation experience within the house and creating a well-lit pathway to the upper floor.
Reimagining Interior Spaces
The bedrooms and bathrooms have been comprehensively redesigned, with attention to improving functionality and comfort. Old carpentry work was replaced to meet modern requirements, while maintaining harmony with the house’s classic character.
Linking Functionality and Aesthetics
These modifications aim to achieve a balance between daily functionality and architectural aesthetics, allowing openings and natural lighting to enhance the sense of space, and seamlessly connecting different parts of the house in a logical and fluid manner.
Material Inspiration from the Original Design
The project followed an approach that drew inspiration from the original house’s materials, such as cedar, fir, and concrete bricks, in order to preserve the traditional architectural character and enhance visual integration between old and new elements.
Commitment to Sustainability and Heritage
Reviewing the house’s archival documents and incorporating local woodworking techniques contributed to a sustainable approach for the project. This also helped maintain the style of the original architect while integrating modern design requirements, achieving a balance between aesthetics and sustainability.
Window and Opening Enhancements
Locally crafted Douglas fir windows were replaced, and the living area was modified to enlarge the multi-panel openings leading to the pool, terrace, and master bedroom. This change aims to enhance visual and functional connectivity with the mature tree canopy, enriching the living experience and making the space more integrated with nature.
Floors and Walls
The floors underwent structural repairs and were refinished with oil, while the walls were renewed using fabric-wrapped gypsum panels, creating an appropriate backdrop for displaying the client’s art collection. This approach combines functional aesthetics with flexibility for customizing the interior spaces.
Variety in Materials and Finishes
The upper floor features Douglas fir wood flooring with finely detailed edges, while the lower and main floors are enhanced with radiant brick tiles extending to the new southern pool terrace. In addition, the brick tiles transition into glass surfaces in designated areas to provide practical use and greater flexibility in lighting and functionality. These finishes complement the building materials inspired by the original design.
Integrating Storage with Design
Functional storage units were consolidated into cabinets made of oil-finished Douglas fir plywood, aiming to maximize open spaces while providing hidden storage solutions. This approach helps keep the interior spaces organized and flexible without compromising the visual flow of the house.
Kitchen Reorientation
The kitchen was reoriented toward the outdoor dining area, enhancing the connection between interior and exterior spaces and providing a more interactive living experience with the surrounding environment.
Exposed Storage
Cedar wood shelving is used throughout the house to display various items, striking a balance between practical functionality and aesthetics, while highlighting natural materials and artisanal touches in the interior design.
Expanding Indoor Seating Areas
An extension of the fireplace in the living room was added, creating what is known as the “Englenook” space, equipped with a suspended concrete sofa. This modification expands the seating area without compromising floor openness, enhancing comfort and flexibility in the use of the room.
Outdoor Seating Areas
A second outdoor concrete sofa was installed to provide evening seating in the open air, connecting the pool house with the main house. In addition, coordinated concrete benches were placed at the front entrance, lower entrance, and around the pool, creating an integrated experience for engaging with outdoor spaces and strengthening the connection between interior and exterior areas.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The project can be regarded as a model demonstrating how traditional design elements can be integrated with contemporary modifications to meet sustainability and modern functional requirements, allowing for the study of ways to enhance the connection between interior spaces and the surrounding natural environment.
However, the project also raises certain questions regarding expansion and spatial redistribution. Focusing on the pool, terraces, and concrete seating areas may reduce the flexibility of interior usage and pose challenges for the long-term maintenance of natural and wooden materials. Furthermore, the density of interventions within the original structure may complicate the assessment of the true impact of these modifications on the house’s historic architectural features, which should be carefully considered when planning similar projects.
Practitioners and students in the field of architecture can benefit from this project as a case study on balancing heritage preservation with modern functionality, emphasizing the importance of meticulously documenting interventions and analyzing their effect on user experience and the environmental character of the dwelling. Additional insights can be explored through research and archival resources to guide similar projects in urban contexts.
